Kiwi Indycar driver Scott Dixon has become the only series driver to win on the oval and road course at Motegi in Japan. Dixon laid his marker down during qualifying when he plonked the Chip Ganassi Racing No9 car on pole.
His wire-to-wire win to keep Will Power out of the top spot keeps him well in contention for the title.
"I have to give a lot of credit to Team Target, they gave me a fantastic car," Dixon said after the last race. "In some sections of the race I was just cruising trying to save fuel. Great pit stops and fuel strategy, and everything was flawless."
Dario Franchitti lost his series lead to Power after a race incident saw him penalised and dropped to the back of the field, from where he clawed his way back to eighth. Franchitti tried an audacious passing move on Ryan Briscoe that resulted in the Scot clipping the back of the Aussie's car.
The win was Dixon's 27th and he's 11th on the list of all-time winners. Power leads the championship with two races to go on 540 points, followed by Franchitti, 531 points and Dixon on 483 points.
